International Mobility Program: International Free Trade Agreements

International Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) contain provisions to facilitate, on a reciprocal basis, temporary entry for business persons. Eligible persons entering under an FTA will generally require a work permit, but are exempt from a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

The Chile, Peru, Columbia and Korea FTAs on this page contain provisions similar to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which grant temporary entry to 4 categories of business persons: business visitors, professionals, intra-company transferees, and traders and investors. Differences are highlighted as they relate to NAFTA.

Note: As of July 1, 2020, NAFTA has been superseded by the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA); however, the Temporary Entry for Business Persons chapter remains unchanged.

The Canada-European Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) also contains provisions which grant temporary entry to business visitors, professionals, intra-company transferees and investors. Entry requirements are significantly different for some categories.

The Agreement on Trade Continuity between Canada and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (CUKTCA) contains provisions that are the same as CETA. The same LMIA exemption codes are to be used. However, there is a special program code to identify whether CETA or CUKTCA is used for the work permit assessment.

Under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), professionals are authorized to enter under exemption codes T33 for professionals. GATS intra-company transferees are authorized to enter under C12.

Canada-International Free Trade Agreements – R204(a)

• North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) – Superseded by Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) as of July 1st, 2020
  T21, T22, T23, T24
• Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)
  T21, T22, T23, T24
• Canada-Chile FTA / Canada-Peru FTA / Canada-Colombia FTA / Canada-Korea FTA
  T21, T22, T23, T24 (and T25 for Colombian or Korean spouse)
• Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
  Business visitors, T43, T44, T46, T47, T48 (and T45 for spouses of intra-company transferees)
• Agreement on Trade Continuity between Canada and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (CUKTCA)
  Business visitors, T43, T44, T46, T47, T48 (and T45 for spouses of intra-company transferees)
• General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)
  T33 and C12, under general provisions, per paragraphs 186(a) and 205(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR)
• Canada–Panama Free Trade Agreement
  T23, under general provisions, per paragraphs R186(a) and R205(a)
• Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
  Paragraph 186(a) and section 187 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, T50, T51, T52 (and T53 for spouses)